Letter #38

My Wonderful Family,

I'd like to say that this letter is going to be lengthy and full of resounding, unbelievable Ripleys. . . but it is not. This week was a simple, solid progression of God´s work, perhaps the best description of missionary work in any case. Highlights were quiet and enriching. I listened to conference all week long and I think I will do so again this week. Some of the top off my head favorites? Elder Bruce Porter, the 2nd speaker at Priesthood, Pres. Uchtdorf's Young Women´s talk (if you haven't heard it, go), Pres. Monson´s discourse and Sister Dalton's talk.

This week we tore apart lists, neighborhoods and old teaching records. We're trying to start the engine for good here in Agudos, even if it is the last week of the transfer, we treat it as the first. (Important missionary tip by the way.)

Sunday morning both sobered and put a smile on my face. Nobody went to church despite our best efforts to pull them out of bed. PEOPLE! But our recent convert helped us look for everyone with an enthusiasm that we should all have but that is sometimes only found in children.

Another highlight was when to our surprise a family that has been inactive for about four years, previously very strong in the church, but who had turned back to old destructive habits, whose son is now in prison, showed up to church. That put a smile on my face and on my soul, especially when the mom turned to me after sacrament and said, "We're back. We are always going to go to church now." Maybe it wasn't a baptism but it pierced me and made my day. Our Ward mission leader made a bbq for us to end our fast. The week ended with the feeling that our sacrifices this week had been accepted and that perhaps the fruit hadn't ripened yet, But it would.

One thing I love about missionary work is that you can have an absolutely on-the-surface horrible week but as long as you talk to everyone, work hard, try to make adjustments, help others, you get home, you finish the week satisfied, SURE that you are doing exactly what the Lord wants of you. That is a beautiful feeling.

We did find a family on our last contact in the street for the week that I think has potential, and I'm excited. I´m going to start to teach the son how to read and the dad is an ex-pastor who is open to reading the Book of Mormon. All the right ingredients there for a conversion.

Elder Beaudoin continues to be stud material (again, ladies. . ) as we broke out some plyometric workouts this week and some excellent in house meals. I'd love to stick around here for another six weeks, we'll see.

Oh and one last note, we held a family home evening this week and shared what I thought was an impressive object lesson (think more impressive than smashing can over hand.) We talked about Pres. Monson's talk on obedience and the story of how Naaman was blessed for listening to the prophet, even if he didn't meet him and the commandment seemed unusual. Then to put the umph in our triUMPHant lesson, I asked them to give me a fifty dollar bill and asked if they trusted me. . .then I told them I was going to burn it. I tossed it in some alcohol to "make it burn better"  and before the pleas stopped lit it on fire. Oh! it burned beautifully, the alcohol that is, and the bill was fine, untouched. That represented the protection that obedience to the prophet brings even if at first it appears ridiculous, or even backwards. We have to trust in the Prophet and do what he says. In the end it will always always work out. I know it will.

I love you , trust you, and pray for you. You are my strength and my help in these days of trouble and testing. A parting thought, from my night time reading of the bible this week:

My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments: For length of days, and a long life, and peace, shall they add to thee. Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart: So shalt thou find favour and good understanding in the sight of God and man. Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

With my love,

Tanner

(Alright I know lame, one picture, but it was a really focused week. It's a Brasilian burrowing owl by the way, a "curuja.")